South Lake Tahoe Wildflowers You Can Find While Biking
Wildflower season is really kicking off in South Lake Tahoe and will only continue to get better over the coming weeks. The area around Lake Tahoe is home to a variety of wildflower species that each year bring color to the lakeshore and the slopes of the surrounding Sierra Nevadas.
Although you may be biking at full speed down the trails, if you have a moment to stop and look at some of the surrounding wildflowers or take a more leisurely ride on a bike around the lake and local state parks, you may find some of the prettiest views at this time here are of the wildflowers. While there are dozens of wildflowers in the local area, these are some of the ones you may see most often.
South Lake Tahoe Native Wildflowers
The Tahoe Basin has a relatively long wildflower growing season starting in May and going until July. This is because the elevation difference between the lake, which is the lowest part of Lake Tahoe Basin, and the surrounding peaks is over 4000 feet.
When flowers bloom in particular places depends on the elevation and the amount of accumulated snow that year. Lower elevations will start blooming first in May before the blooms move up the mountainside throughout the summer. A year with more snow, like this year, will push the wildflower season later.
When you are in the right place and at the right time, these are some of the beautiful flower species you can spot:
Tahoe Yellow Cress - This is a rare wildflower with bush like leaves and tiny yellow blooms. It only grows near the shore of the lake and is endangered, so it will often be protected by a fence when it is growing.
Anderson’s Thistle - You will often find these around the edges of meadows. The thistle can grow up to 4 feet tall and produces a bright pink, spiky ball for its bloom.
Big Elephants Head - This stalk, and its smaller cousin Little Elephants Head, grows magenta colored flowers with petals that resemble an elephant’s ears and trunk. Meadows are common spots to find Elephants Head.
Mountain Bluebells - These delicate purple-blue flowers get their name from their resemblance to a cluster of bells hanging. They often grow in large groups for a beautiful carpet of flowers.
Snow Plant - This one is an herb and it does not have chlorophyll for food. Instead, it feeds on fungi. It is a brilliant red color with a thick stalk and lots of tiny buds. They grow up from dead pine needles to about 1 foot.
Alpine Heather - These delicate white flowers look like little bells with red stems. They grow in bunches so you will see dozens of flowers. The stems are also unique because they are encased in many pointy leaves.
The best way to see wildflowers by bike is to come when flowers are blooming around the lake and take a slower, meandering ride with an E-bike. You can let the pedal assist do a lot of the work, leaving you free to go further and really observe all the scenery around you. You can also bike to some amazing wildflower viewing spots and enjoy short hikes or picnics as you take in the flowers. Some of the great local places are Washoe Meadows State Park and Van Sickle Bi-State Park. If your day is more about high intensity mountain biking, you will probably be keeping your eyes on the trail more than on the flowers, but short breaks can be a fun time to engage in a bit of wildflower identification as you are likely to spot a few flowers wherever you stop.
If you are coming up to South Lake Tahoe for wildflower viewing, this is a great year to see them by bike. Pine Nut Cycle Cafe can outfit you with an E-bike or standard bike for your excursion. Our South Lake Tahoe bike rentals are a fun, affordable, and convenient way to see all Tahoe’s natural beauty, including the wildflowers, this summer. Get started by reserving your bike ahead of time online or come by our shop and cafe in South Lake Tahoe when you get into town.
